Chapter80 A Visit from Vivian Steinman

Beth wipes the tears away with the back of her hand as she sniffles; trying to compose herself. "God I hope so. I just want her to be safe…back here with us. We have to get her back, Cindy." "We will, Beth; trust me, we will." "Please. Before they hurt her. I don't want them to hurt her." "Don't worry, Mrs. Lazinski; Chelsea won't allow them to hurt your daughter." A voice comes from the doorway between the dining and living rooms. Everyone turns and sees a forty-something, well dressed, very proper and sophisticated looking woman standing there. She reaches in her purse and pulls out a pack of Virginia Slims cigarettes; then, takes one out and puts it in her mouth. She puts the pack of cigarettes back in the purse and retrieves a lighter. She ignites the lighter and proceeds to move it up to the cigarette…stopping an inch or two away from the tip… looks to Beth and asks… "I'm sorry; may I?" Beth, bewildered by the sudden appearance of this strange woman in her house, just nods. The woman lights the cigarette, puts the lighter back in her purse, then, takes a drag and expels the smoke from her mouth. She looks back at Beth. "Your back door was open; I hope you don't mind. Allow me to introduce myself; I'm Vivian Steinman." "Excuse me," Cindy walks over to greet the woman, extending her hand out to shake hands, "did you say you're Vivian Steinman?" The two shake hands as the woman replies, "Yes; I did." "I thought you said you were coming out on Thursday. It's only Monday." "I know; but, I concluded my business and decided to come out a little earlier…I hope that's alright?" "Oh yes! I'm sorry; forgive me please, Ms. Steinman. You just caught us a little off guard by showing up today; we weren't expecting you so soon. You should have let us known; my uncle could have picked you up at the airport." "It's fine; I had my driver pick me up. Besides, I didn't want anyone to know I was coming back early; especially Jack." "Ms. Steinman," the sheriff walks over and extends his hand out to shake hers, "I'm Sheriff Lloyd Faulkner, Mam; but, you can call me Lloyd. Good to meet you Mam." "Good to meet you too, Lloyd; but, please, call me Vivian …‘Mam' makes me think of my grandmother." "Well now, Ms. Vivian; you don't look like anyone's grandmother to me." The sheriff smiles. "Now, Lloyd, you charmer you; I think I'm going to like you." "Ms. Steinman." "Vivian; please. And; I'm sorry, you are…" "Cindy." "Oh yes; we spoke on the phone." "Yes, that was me. I'd like to introduce you to Professor Rhyies." "Professor Rhyies, how do you do?" "Very well, thank you. And, please; it's Wilhelm." "Very well then, Wilhelm; pleasure to meet you." "The pleasure is all mine, I'm sure. And, I must agree with the Sheriff; you don't strike me as being someone's grandmother either." "My; two charmers…must be my lucky day. Thank you, Wilhelm. Any more charmers for me to meet?" The sheriff jokes, "Well, there's Martin and Mike; so, the answer would have to be no I'm afraid." "Behave yourself, Lloyd." Beth lightly slaps his chest with the back of her hand as she passes by him. "Excuse me, Ms. Steinman." "Vivian; please." "Sorry. Vivian, hi; I'm…" Before Beth could finish, Vivian embraces her, "You're Beth, I know; how are you doing, dear? I'm aware of what happened with your daughter…I'm so sorry." "Pardon me, Ms. Vivian;" the sheriff wonders, "but, how do you know what happened to Beth's daughter?" "I have my sources, Lloyd." She smiles and winks at the sheriff. He gives her a shy, kind of goofy, smile back…sort of like an awkward, little schoolboy embarrassed by the advances of a flirtatious little girl might have…and, takes a moment to gather his thoughts. "So; then, I reckon that's how you knew your brothers were up to no good?" "Actually, Lloyd; Aruba was how I knew my brothers…well, at least Jack…was up to no good." "Aruba?" "Yes, Lloyd; Aruba. You see, my brothers and I don't get along particularly well together; so, I barely keep contact with them. The only time I usually hear from Jack is when he's up to something around here…I still live in Providence…so, when he wants to keep me from finding out what he's doing; he'll try sending me on some lavish trip that he claims he's offering out of the goodness of his heart. Like he has a heart!" She laughs. "This time it was Aruba." "Excuse me, Vivian?" "Yes, Beth, dear; what is it?" "You said that Chelsea won't let Anna be hurt?" "That's right." "So; you think Chelsea's still around?" "Of course she's still here…but, surely you must have realized this by now; haven't you? She's been haunting these grounds for years…ever since the night Mary killed her out in the barn. "